Lynette Wallworth work “Evolution of Fear” is a series of interactive installations that respond to touch.
Wallworths work practice spans from video installation, photography and short film. Her work touches on human relationships with nature, how we become who we are and how we can re-make ourselves by our actions.
This work (exhibition) “Evolution of Fear” is a tribute to woman who have survived war, concentration camps, and other extreme actions of violence. It deals with loss, impact of war, survival and new beginnings.
The picture you see here is of a woman in the Abhaya Mudru, symbolic or ritual gesture. Abhaya meaning “fearlessness” and Abhaya Mudru symbolisies protection, peace and dispelling fear. The gesture its self is a raised right hand to shoulder height, arm bent and palm facing out.
To me this work seem to suggest that we as individuals, people have the power to make and do what we want with each situation, how to over come and get through hard time, re-birth our self with a new way of thinking or living, like starting a new life in Australia like the woman in this exhibition have.
Humanism is a system of thought concerned with human affairs and ethics, pro-motion of human welfare. (Oxford dictionary)
I think Wallworth’s works has offered us an idea of humanism, making us think more about our actions, that we can protect, create peace. “Finding a way to be stronger and to deflect the unforgiving elements encountered daily”.
Wallworths work practice spans from video installation, photography and short film. Her work touches on human relationships with nature, how we become who we are and how we can re-make ourselves by our actions.
This work (exhibition) “Evolution of Fear” is a tribute to woman who have survived war, concentration camps, and other extreme actions of violence. It deals with loss, impact of war, survival and new beginnings.
The picture you see here is of a woman in the Abhaya Mudru, symbolic or ritual gesture. Abhaya meaning “fearlessness” and Abhaya Mudru symbolisies protection, peace and dispelling fear. The gesture its self is a raised right hand to shoulder height, arm bent and palm facing out.
To me this work seem to suggest that we as individuals, people have the power to make and do what we want with each situation, how to over come and get through hard time, re-birth our self with a new way of thinking or living, like starting a new life in Australia like the woman in this exhibition have.
Humanism is a system of thought concerned with human affairs and ethics, pro-motion of human welfare. (Oxford dictionary)
I think Wallworth’s works has offered us an idea of humanism, making us think more about our actions, that we can protect, create peace. “Finding a way to be stronger and to deflect the unforgiving elements encountered daily”.
I absolutely love this work by Lynette Wallworth! I definitely agree with your idea of how this exhibition presents humanism. For me these works show the pure strength of our humanity, by placing women who have overcome some of the most unforgiving situations, proving they are anything but vulnerable by finding the strength within themselves to recreate their lives. Furthermore, this art provides the opportunity for the audience to not only form a connection with these women by literally connecting to their interactive images, but also forces the viewer to question what experiences have shaped them, and perhaps wonder what their limits might be, what it would take for us to reach the limit of our human spirit. Although this art has a traumatizing background I feel it is beautiful, and thought provoking also in the sense of posing the questions, how many more millions of people have to or have had to deal such situations, and what is the human spirit?
ReplyDeleteI find this work (exhibition) very fascinating, even though we did not have a chance to see it. Looking at those photos of women, I had strange feeling: I started thinking, that people who had to see or to be victims of the cruelty become the one's who will never hurt anybody in their lives. While looking at those women I had an impression that they are someone close to "holies". It is still possible to feel what they had to see in the past.Looking at that sad smile on their faces, I thought that they want to say "People, stop killing each other.We had enough war, cruelty in our lives. Let's just stop hating each other..." While reading about this work I remembered Picasso's Guernica and that woman holding her died child in her hands. Picasso showed horrors of war through through suffering image of the woman. In "Evolution of fearlessness" , what I liked the most, is that the same horror was shown through peaceful expression, just with a soft smile which explains whole lives of people who were urged to have "forgiveless situations".
ReplyDeleteI found this exhibition interesting, and would have loved to have seen it personally. I agree that this is related to humanism because it shows the women recovering from whatever happened to them and moving on with life in another country (Australia)"Evolution of the fearless" by the artist Lynette Wallworth spoke to me personally through her art installation piece, though I haven’t personally experienced violence I know that lots of woman have experienced it. Everyone is an individual which also makes me also feel a connection to this installation art work. I thought it was interesting how Christine touched on the woman’s name and how it meant “fearlessness” the artist thought carefully about how it related to the installation. This installation also showed me from the horror of violence to the peace which has now come upon these women’s lives coming to a new country where they will no longer feel fear or hurt.
ReplyDeleteThis art work makes us feel responsible for our actions toward other people.
I feel that this exhibiton explores humanism in a big way. The photos are not only amazing, the touch to change to the next slide really concrets the humanism thought process used in this exhibition. I like the way that Wallworth is not just focusing on the horror of war like many photographers do, but has taken a different approach by showing women who have dealt with terrifying and life threatening situations; overcome it, and are now focusing on rebuilding their lives. The touch aspect of the exhibition gives so much more emotion to the viewer and the way these amazing women are reaching out, emphasises the ability humans have to reconstruct and rehabilitate their lives after surviving inhumane acts of cruelty and suffering. It is amazing to see these women now standing strong after what they have been through and Wallworth explores humanism indpeth with this exhibition
ReplyDeleteIt was really interesting to learn about the 'Abhaya Mudru' in your blog!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw the images of the women with their hands raised, I instantly assumed it was to do with faith. It's really interesting that that gesture means fearlessness and protection.
I agree with what you said about people having the power to do what they want with situations. I think that's really true, and definitely what the exhibition might be suggesting.
I found it really amazing to find out the struggles that these women have been through, but managed to overcome with their own will power.
I absolutely agree that this work relates to humanism as these fearless women prove they can go through the hardest of situations and find the light at the end of the tunnel by re-evaluating the way these women (and women who have been put in simular situations) have been treated and are standing up to it, with a new beginning of life with courage. I love the way in this work you can tell that by making the viewer 'touch' the hands of these women that they connect with them and feel their pain and in a way share with them a new improved view of life. I think this is a beautiful way to give tribute to those unfortunate women.
ReplyDeleteI found this piece of work very inspiring, though i didn't haev the chance too see the exhibition, after research, it is obvious to see how much work and thought has gone into it. In a society where things come so easily to us, and that we now have equal rights, to see what these women have gone through, recently is shocking. That fact that things like that are still going on is unbelievable. But despite that the work is not about pity, it is about seeing the hope these women have and how they've turned their lives around. It raises awareness to the fact that we can make a change for the better no matter what the situation. I think this work is an excellent example of how to view life.
ReplyDeleteChristine, I agree with you. Wallworth’s work is a great representation of humanism.
ReplyDeleteI find it an effective and touching way to provoke thoughts about rights not just woman’s rights either.
Everyone has different opinions about touchy issues such as the ones raised within the exhibition but the interactive factor would persuade the audience to come into the space and take in the point of view, ‘the shoes’ that each woman is in. Giving the viewer an opportunity to consider things in a different light.